Dealing with smelly drains is something every homeowner will face at some point, and it can be a dreadful task. The cause behind the odour could be anything: food scraps, hair, grease or a clog that has been building up for too long. But worry not, we’ve compiled a list of 30 effective tips to help clear your drains and control the smell. So let’s get started with the first ten!
Contents
- 1. Try Baking Soda Solution
- 2. Use Vinegar for Cleaning
- 3. Boiling Water Trick
- 4. Implementing Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaners
- 5. Regular Drain Maintenance
- 6. Citrus Peel Fresheners
- 7. Bleach as Last Resort
- 8. Use Professional Drain Solutions
- 9. Dry Drains Cause Odor
- 10. Regular Garbage Disposal Cleans
- 11. Run Water Frequently
- 12. No Grease or Oil
- 13. Avoid Clogging Materials
- 14. Need of Drain Covers
- 15. Install Cleanout Plug
- 16. Increasing Ventilation Effect
- 17. Drain Snakes for Blocks
- 18. Using a Plunger
- 19. Install Bacteria-Based Cleaners
- 20. Avoid Chemical-based Cleaners
- 21. Implement Regular Inspections
- 22. Decreased Water Flow
- 23. Sudden Backups Indicate Problem
- 24. Water Isn’t Draining
- 25. Repetitive Drain Clogs
- 26. Gurgling Sounds from Drains
- 27. Foul Odors Persist
- 28. Multiple Clogged Drains
- 29. Septic Waste Backup
- 30. Hire Drain Cleaning Professional
- Wrapping Things Up
1. Try Baking Soda Solution
The use of baking soda goes beyond being a staple in your pantry. It is an effective solution against smelly drains as well. You will need only 1/2 cup of baking soda and then pour it down your drain. The alkalinity aids in breaking down grease, thus improving water flow. It’s also safe for the environment, unlike typical drain cleaners which can harm our waterways—a crucial concern in environmental science.
2. Use Vinegar for Cleaning
Another kitchen ingredient which works wonders for drain cleaning is vinegar. Its acidity is strong enough to dissolve deposits that build up in your pipes over time, thus resulting in water damage if neglected. Vinegar also eliminates bad smells by killing bacteria that produce those foul odours.
3. Boiling Water Trick
The simplest of all solutions against drain odour is boiling water. Pour a few kettles of boiling water directly into the drain weekly; it will dissolve clogs and evacuate anything causing unpleasant smells while maintaining your pipes’ health.
4. Implementing Enzyme-Based Drain Cleaners
These biodegradable cleaners are made of living bacteria and enzymes that eat away organic matter like hair, grease & food scraps—common culprits behind smelly drains. These enzyme-based cleaners are best suited for confined spaces like drains since they don’t produce harmful fumes and safeguard against potential safety hazards.
5. Regular Drain Maintenance
Remember a stitch in time saves nine! You must implement a regular cleaning schedule for your drains. Whether it’s getting your hands dirty or hiring professional services to ensure that your intricate pipe network is kept in pristine condition, regular maintenance will prevent any cause of water damage, dehumidifying work, or construction due to broken downpipes.
6. Citrus Peel Fresheners
If you fancy a more natural approach for a fresh-smelling drain, consider using citrus peels. After thoroughly cleansing your drain, send down few lemon or orange peels through the garbage disposal. The result is terrific; your entire kitchen will fill up with fresh citrus fragrance.
7. Bleach as Last Resort
When all else fails, use bleach but sparingly! Its strong chemical properties can efficiently handle terrible odour and unblock minor clogs. However, keep in mind; it’s harsh on the environment and might even damage old pipes. So remember to use it only as a last resort.
8. Use Professional Drain Solutions
A complex network of underground sewerage can make DIY methods insufficient at times. If the smelly drain problem persists despite your best attempts, think no further and call for professional help—a competent building engineering team with expertise in both hydrology and civil engineering should be able to solve even the toughest drainage problems.
9. Dry Drains Cause Odor
If you’re experiencing foul odours from drains that aren’t frequently used, the likely cause is a dry trap allowing gases to enter your home from the sewerage system. Regularly pouring water down less-used drains helps maintain the necessary water seal and keeps your home smell-free.
10. Regular Garbage Disposal Cleans
A common area that often gets overlooked while performing regular maintenance is garbage disposal. Food particles stuck can create unpleasant odours over time. Regularly cleaning garbage disposal with any of the above-discussed home remedies or professional-grade cleaners will keep foul smells at bay.
These tips should help you manage your drainage and smells better. Remember, if things get too tough, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Stay tuned for the next part of these handy tips!
11. Run Water Frequently
Just like the water in a vibrant creek stays fresh, doing regular flows through your drain can keep foul smells at bay. This is especially relevant if you’re leaving a building or confined space unattended for a while. Water, being a natural solvent can help dissolve minor blockages, washing smelly substances away. While not necessarily aiding in building technology or safety, it’s an environmental science-backed approach that aligns with our bodies’ biochemistry and hydrology.
12. No Grease or Oil
Grease and oil can create big problems in drainage pipes, akin to water damage caused in construction or building engineering due to poor materials choice. When poured down the drain they solidify and grab onto other matter like leaves and food particles, creating stubborn blockages which can lead to bad smell. Make it a habit not to pour oil down the drain. It’s simple but effective!
13. Avoid Clogging Materials
Besides grease and oil, there are several other clogging materials that you should avoid placing down your drains— such as hair, coffee grounds, food leftovers, paper towels etc. In fact, think of your drain more like a sewerage system rather than a waste disposal.
14. Need of Drain Covers
The purpose of drain covers is similar to building insulation; they protect from undesirables entering your system! Drain covers sit over the mouth of drains preventing large materials from entering the drains that can potentially lead to blockages and therefore smelly drains. They’re generally quite cheap and easy to install – an effortless task that reaps major benefits!
15. Install Cleanout Plug
In the practice of civil engineering with reference to plumbing, the use of a cleanout plug can be very helpful for maintaining the functionality of drains. This is a handy device that permits easy access to your pipe system. But more importantly, when it comes to reducing drain smells, a well-installed and secured cleanout plug can seal off sewer gas odours from wafting into your home.
16. Increasing Ventilation Effect
Just like in basements or enclosed spaces, where dehumidifiers increase ventilation effect for preventing humidity and water damage, the same principle applies to drains as well. Installing a vent stack for your plumbing system can help increase this ventilation effect. A regular flow of air moves sewer gas up and out while allowing a fresh air intake.
17. Drain Snakes for Blocks
Drain snakes can deal effectively even with stubborn blocks in the pipe. It’s a vital tool in the field of environmental engineering for keeping sewerage systems running smoothly. Even if you don’t have professional construction experience, operating it doesn’t pose much of a safety issue – making it an accessible DIY hack!
18. Using a Plunger
Although plungers are typically associated with toilets, this underappreciated tool can be used in other drains too! If you’ve got a minor smell-causing blockage, using a plunger properly can often dislodge and hence remove any foulness. It’s akin to controlling water in hydrology; both aim to keep things flowing smoothly, preventing damaging buildup.
19. Install Bacteria-Based Cleaners
This might sound counterintuitive – but bear with us! Specialised strains of friendly bacteria produce enzymes that eat through organic matter buildups inside pipes. This is an environmentally safer alternative to harsh chemical-based cleaners which can corrode and harm pipes. From the perspective of environmental science and safety standards, these bacteria-based cleaners are an excellent choice!
20. Avoid Chemical-based Cleaners
Building on our last entry, although chemical drain cleaners are common, they can cause more harm than good over time. This is due to their corrosive nature which can wear down pipes – a distinct parallel to how improper building materials can cause structural issues in the field of construction. While effective in the short term, they can result in costly repairs in the future! To avoid this, stick with enzymatic, bacterial-based cleaners and the reliable physical cleaning methods we’ve already discussed.
21. Implement Regular Inspections
One of the practical steps for keeping your drains in optimal condition is conducting regular inspections. It’s recommended to do this at least biannually. Like a routine doctor check-up, it allows you to catch any issues early before they exacerbate. Early detection can save a lot of money, time, and stress that comes with dealing with severe plumbing damages.
22. Decreased Water Flow
If you notice a significant reduction in your water flow it could be due to a blockage in your drains. This may manifest as slow flowing water from taps or sinks taking longer than usual to empty. This calls for an immediate response because if left unchecked, the problem could worsen and potentially lead to costly repairs or replacements.
23. Sudden Backups Indicate Problem
Unexpected surges of water are tell-tale signs that something is amiss with your drains. This usually signifies a hard to reach blockade causing water to back-up and overflow. Also, frequent need to plunge toilets or sinks indicates that there’s a larger issue at play that you might not fully be able to solve without professional help.
24. Water Isn’t Draining
A persistent problem in many households is standing water due to drains not doing their job properly. Be on the lookout for water that doesn’t drain quickly after baths or showers, or even standing water in sinks after usage. This can indicate a serious clog that requires professional intervention.
25. Repetitive Drain Clogs
If you find yourself constantly unclogging the same drain, this might signal a more severe drainage problem hidden deeper within your pipes. Repetitive drain clogs can cause hygiene issues and structural damage potentially leading to hefty repair bills.
26. Gurgling Sounds from Drains
If complete silence is disturbed by frequent gurgling noises from your drains, this is a cause for worry. These sounds are usually caused by air trapped in your pipes due to blockages. Ignoring such an issue can lead to more severe problems over time and potential damage to your drains.
27. Foul Odors Persist
The unpleasant smell emanating from your drains could be indicative of a deeper problem such as decayed or stuck waste. Foul odors persisting even after cleaning drains signal that there could be a significant blockage in the drainpipe or a problem with your sewer system.
28. Multiple Clogged Drains
If you’re dealing with multiple clogged drains simultaneously, it’s most likely a symptom of a main sewer clog. This situation should not be taken lightly as sewage backups could lead to unhygienic conditions and potential health concerns.
29. Septic Waste Backup
Experiencing septic waste backup is an urgent call for professional help. Such incidents reflect severe septic system issues or drain blockage in the main sewer line that can result in destructive consequences if not attended promptly.
30. Hire Drain Cleaning Professional
No one can better handle the complicated matters of drain cleaning than a seasoned professional plumber. When troubles seem beyond DIY remedies, hiring a drain cleaning professional ensures thorough inspection, precise diagnosis and effective solutions that prevent potential issues before they become formidable problems.
Wrapping Things Up
Maintaining a fully functioning drainage system requires regular monitoring and timely action to noting changes like decreased water flow, recurrent clogs or foul smells. Remember, early detection is key — it saves time, avoids extra costs and prevents significant damage to your plumbing system. When in doubt or if a problem seems too large to handle, seek prompt professional help to ensure effective and long-lasting solutions.
Dan’s Plumbing is a leading name in emergency plumbing across Australia. We ensure prompt and effective plumbing solutions for residents across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast.
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